Ernest James Brandon Bettenay

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Canning Mills, Western Australia
Death	1968
Place of Death	Brisbane, Queensland
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 6 months
Description	5' 5" (1.65m) tall; 111lbs (50.4 Kg) weight; dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair.
Occupation	motor mechanic
Religion	Methodist
Address	Lodge road, Eagle Junction, Queensland
Next of Kin	Mother Nrs Jane Elizabeth Bettenay (nee Peglar)
Military Information
Reg Number	373
Date of Enlistment	6 Jan 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	4th Division Cyclist Company, 2nd reinforcement, transferred to 1st Aust Ammunition Sub Park, transferred to 1st Div Motor Transport Company
Date of Embarkation	1 May 1916 - unknown arrival
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A46 Clan McGillivray
Date of Return	4 Jul 1919 - 20 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	HMT Norman
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	unknown
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Father was Matthew Bettenay. Ernie's address on enlistment was Goondiwindi, and the letter of permission signed by his parents gave him leave to join the Queensland Expeditionary Force.

War Service

Originally a member of the 8th reinforcement draft for the 31st Battalion, he was found to be surplus to their needs in Egypt and was transferred to the 4th Division's Cyclist Company.

He travelled from Alexandria to Marseilles on board the HMT Tunisian in Jul 1916. In France he was transferred to 1st Anzac Corps Ammunition Park on 1 Oct 1916, and then to the 1st Division Motor Transport Company on 19 Mar 1918. Appointed Lance Corporal on 7 Oct 1918, and acted as Temporary Corporal from Nov 1918 to Apr 1919.

Immediately after the Armistice, Ernie took leave in Nice. Before coming home he spent a couple of periods in hospital in Dartford, with scabies.

Discharged 2nd Military District 6 Oct 1919.

Roll Of Honour - List No. 466. Ill T/Cpl Ern. Jas. Brandon Bettenay, Eagle Junction.

Post War

Married in 1922 to Janet Winning Storrie.

Electoral Roll entries - 1919 in Lodge road, Eagle Junction, a mechanic; 1925 - 1954 in Cook street, Yeronga; 1958 - 1968 retired at 52 Petrel avenue, Mermaid Beach Qld.

The Courier Mail 17 Dec 1952 announced the engagement of daughter Joy to William Shirley.